Is Brain in a Superfluid State? Physics of Consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive December 16, 2010 via arXiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe mind can be modeled as an abstract Hilbert space where information behaves like particles, created by a non-Hermitian operator called Self. These particles form a coherent information field, and the average of the Self operator constitutes the basic sense of 'I'. Awareness and consciousness are response functions of these operators to the external world. Using a simple neural model, the article shows how a baby under two years old develops self-awareness once neural connectivity reaches a critical value. The 'I' is a cognitive order parameter arising from a thermodynamic phase transition from chaos to a symmetry-broken coherent state, similar to superfluidity.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Physics.gen-ph Consciousness Quantum physics Neuroscience Cognitive development |
| Key finding | The sense of self emerges as a thermodynamic phase transition in neural connectivity, analogous to superfluidity. |
Abstract
The article "Physics of Consciousness" treats mind as an abstract Hilbert space with a set of orthogonal base vectors to describe information like particles, which are considered to be the elementary excitation of a quantum field. A non-Hermitian operator of Self is introduced to create these information like particles which in turn will constitute a coherent information field. The non - zero average of this self operator is shown to constitute our basic I. Awareness and consciousness is described very simply as a response function of these operators to external world. We show with a very simple neural model how a baby less than two years old develop self-awareness as the neural connectivity achieves a critical value. The all-important I is the basic cognitive order parameter of each human brain and is a result of thermodynamic phase transition from a chaotic disordered state to a symmetry broken coherent ordered state, very akin to physics of superfluidity.